Control apparatus



PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

A. T. GROOKBR. CONTROL APPARATUS. AIPLIOATIOH FILED JANA), 1905. RENEWED SEPT. 18,1907.

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lnverwon WHnesses:

No. 872,991- PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907. A. T. GROGKBR.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JANA), 19o5.'umwnn SEYT. 18, 1907.

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A'rkhur T. Crocker:

PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907.

A. T. GROCKER. CONTROL APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 1mm, 1905. RENEWED snr'r. 1a, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- lnvenror,

Arihur' TCrocker By AH'y.

Case, No. 801,214, date 'motorman to regulate the motor speed UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

ARTHUR 'r. CROCKER,

or SVCHENECTADY, NEW Y'ORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, a CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

coirrRoL 'arrana'rus.

Specification of Letters Fatent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

- Application filed January .9 1905- Serial No. 240,143- Renewed September 18. 1907. Serial m1- 893.462.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR T. CROCKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Scheneotadmcounty of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Control Apparatus,

of which the following is a s ecification.

The present invention relates to control ap aratus for electric motors and particular y to ap aratus arranged to produce automatic acce eration of a motor or motors.

In one of its aspects the present invention has for its object to improve the control apparatus set forth in the atent of Frank E. Oct. 10, 1905, for Systems of motor control. In the Case app 'oation the master controller, Or the motor controller, which is operated directlyby the 1s so arranged that it is impossible for the motorman to move the controller faster than at a predetermined rate of speed, or to move it at a eater mine rate, than that required to accelerate the motors at a predetermined rate of current input. For this purpose the controller is flexibly connected to the operating handle and is provided with a brake or friction device for limiting the forward movement of the controller inde endentl' of the movement of the contro ler hand e.

rangement the motormanis enabled to turn the controller handle to any running position and the controller proper will follow at a rate of s eed determined by the adjustment of the, riction or brake device. Further means is provided for entirely checking the forward movement of the controller in case the motor current exceeds a predetermined value.

One of the ob'ects of the present invention is to improve t e limiting and checkin devices for a motor or master controller 0 the type specified, in order that a definite current input to the motors may be effectively maintained. A further object of the present invention is to improve the mechams" 1 for operating the emergency air-brake valve and the emerencv circuit breaker when the controller andle is released by the motorman. The construction whereby this object is accomplished is fully shown and described in this application but is not herein claimed as it is made the subject of a divisional application Serial No. 363,585, filed March 21, 1907.

speed, less than the predeter-' By this ar-- The present invention will'be more clearly understood and further objectswill appear from the following description and drawings disclosing a preferred form thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a ortion of the controller arranged inaccor ance with the present invention and having a portion of the inclosing casing removed; Fig. 2 is a detail of the upper portion of the controller, parts of which are removed in order to show the mechanism directly associated with the emergency airbrake valve; Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately on line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4'is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fi 1; Fig. 5 is a section taken On line 55 of 4; Fig. 6 is a detail of the mechanism for operating the emergency air-brake valve; Fig. 7 is a section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 1, showing the yielding connection between the controller shaft and the sleeve geared to the controller cylinder; Figs. 8 and 9 are details of the controller; Fig. 10 is a diagram illustratin in developed form, the limiting and chec lnng mechanism of the controller.

Similar reference characters will be used throughout the specification and drawings to indicate like parts.

Are resents a portion of the controller casing which are supported the controller.

parts; B is the control er cylinder; 0 the reversing switch; and D the controller handle: all of which ma be of an usual or desired construction. The contro ler handle is connected to and directly 0 crates the shaft 1 which extends through t he to of the controller casing and is supporte at its lower end within the boss 2 ad acent the upper end of the controller cylinder. Surrounding the lower end of the shaft 1 is a sleeve 3, the specific construction of which is immaterial in so far as the o eration of the present invention is concerns The lower end of the sleeve 3, which may be supportedupon the boss 2, is provided with gear wheel or segment 4 which meshes with a pinion 5 secured to shaft 6 of the controller cylinder. A s ring 7 is arranged within the sleeve 3 an has its opposite ends seoured to the shaft 1 and to the walls of the sleeve, respectively. The upper end. of the sleeve abuts against a collar 8 upon the shaft 1,-and this collar, together with the boss. 2, revents the sleeve from I moving axially. he function of the spring 7 is to actuate the controller cylinder whenthe vided with ratchet teeth ber 14 to spring has been wound up or partially'wound up by turning the handle Lfto any of its operative positions. .'In order that it may e ectually perform itsintended function, the s} ring is placed under an initial tension which is maintained by reason-of the shoulder :9 on the sleeve abutting against a shoulder'10 formed on the flange 11 of the collar 8 when the parts are in their off positions. 'It is evident if no limiting or retarding means wereprovided, the controller cylinder would ofperate in substantially the same manner as i t were geared directly to the shaft 1. The

preferred form of limiting and retarding means consists of an electromagnetically-actu tted escapement device in L1 conditions, permits the controller cylinder to move forward step by ste at a predetermined rate of speed, but whic arrests'the controller and looks it against movement when the motor current exceeds apredetermined maximum.

In Fig. 10 the limiting and checking mechanism is shown diagrammatically and in developed form and the operation thereof will be described with reference to this figure before the mechanical elements are pointed out in the various figures illustrating the actual controller construction. The sleeve 3 is pro? 12 and13 and cooperating with these teeth is a double awl or pallet comprising the member 14 an the member 1 5. The members 14 and 15 are mounted -upon a common pivot 16 and are connected together by means of a spring 17 which tends to force the shoulders23 and 24 of the res ective pawls or pallets into engagement with each other, causing the members 14 and 15 to act as a single structure in releasing the cylinder, but permitting the memyield when the cylinder is turned .backward. The pallet 15 1s provided with an elongated arm 18 which is connected to or otherwise operatively associated with an electromagnet 20. The circuit to the actuating coil of electromagnet 20 from trolley T to ground A mova le contact member 22, when in engagement with contacts 21, completes the circuit of the actuating coil of the electromagnet and enables the magnet to lift the end of the arm 18. The shoulders 23 and 24 on the awls 14 and 15 are so located that one pall e t is held out of engagement with the 006 crating ratchet teeth when the other pal et is in engagement with the teeth with which 'it cooperates. I parts shown, the pallet 141s in engagement with one of the teeth 12, and, if now "the electromagnet 20 is energized, this pallet will be retracted and pallet 15 will be laced in'the path of movement of one of t e teeth 13, thereb enabling the sleeve 3 to move for ward s ightly until arrestedbyreasonof the which, under nor-,

Easses through a set of contacts 21.'

In the position of the.

,controlleris in its off pallet 15 engaging with one of the teeth 13.

s movement of the sleeve is sufficient to enable'the pallet 14 to ride upon the second of the teeth 12. As the core of the electromagnet 20 rises, a lever 25, which is engaged by a stop 26 on the arm l8,'forces the movable contact member 22 out of engagement with the. contacts 21 by reason of a pin or projection 27 striking against the arm 28 on the contact member. Thereupon the electromagnet 20 is den'ergized and the arm 18 is forced downwardly by means of a spring 29, this movement of the arm 18 releasing pallet 15 from engagement with the teeth 13- and enabling thesleeve 3 to move forward a step until arrested by the-pallet 14. As soon as the arm 18 dro s, a s ring 30 retracts the lever 25 and ena les t e movable contact member 22 to again come into engagement with the fixed contacts 21. The movable contact member 22 may or it may be moved to its closed position by a spring 31. The retractile movement of the lever 25 is retarded by means of a dash pot 32 which provides the requisite time interval between successive operations of the electromagnet. In the drawing thesmovable contact 22 isshown out of engagement with the contacts 21 although the arm 18 is in its lower position; this is due to the'action of the locking mechanismfor the parts when the position as illustrated. The locking mechanism for the esca 'ement will be described hereinafter.

l 't will be seen that the controller cylinder is moved forward step by ste to a point determined by the position of the controller handle, namely, until the shoulders 9 and 10 upon the sleeve3 and collar 8 upon the controller shaft 1 come into engagement. Biyl adjusting the dash pot, the speed at whic be gravity actuated the controller cylinder progresses may .be

varied at will. and given any desired value. It ma however, transpire that the particulara justment which the controller may have, provides for a too rapid increaseof current to the motors under some conditions, and I therefore provide means for checking the movement of the controller when the current increases too rapidly, untilthe current again falls to a normal value. -To this end a relay 33 is arrranged in a] circuit in shunt to the contacts 21, the coil 34 of the relay being energized by motor current. It is evident that if at any time the current through motors M and M reaches a predetermined maximum suflicient to close the relay 33, the circuit of the coil of electromagnet 20 will be closed independently of contacts 21 and 22', and therefore the arm 18 will-not drop when contact is'broken at 21 but will. remain in its raised position until the motor current falls to such avalue that the relay is opened. Durin the time the relay 33 remains closed it is 0% course impossible for the controller tween the parts.

cylinder to move forward, inasmuch as it is held locked by means of the pawl 15.

Unless the escapement mechanism is locked in some way when the controller is in its oli' or in its final running position, the electromagnet will energize and dener ize itself continuously, if current is supp ied thereto, producing a useless action of the escapement parts. In order to prevent this, stop mechanism is arranged on the controller for locking the escapement mechanism when the controller cylinder is in either its off or its full running position. This stop mechanism may consist of connected lever mechanism 35 which is forced against the lever 25 by pins or projections 36 and 37 arranged upon the sleeve 3 and adapted to engage the lever mechanism 35 when the controller cylinder is in its off position and its final running position, respectively.

The parts of the escap'ement operating mechanism are most clearly shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5 and 8. The electromagnet 20 is arranged within the controller in approximately the same lane as that of the teeth 12 and 13, and the ouble pawl or pallet device is pivoted between bosses 38 and 39 forming part of or secured to the controller casing. The movable contact piece 22 is provided wilh an arm 40 to which the spring 31 is attached. A springmctuated catch 41 is adapted to engage with a shoulder 42 on the arm 40 when the movable contact piece is retracted and thereby hold it in that position independently of the lever 25. The provision of a catch for holding the switch member 22 open enables the lever arm 25 to move freely, subject to the influence of the dash pot, until it approaches the limit of its movement, producing greater certainty of action than if the lever arm had to hold the switch arm open through a sliding'engagament be- The dash pot 32 may be of any suitable construction and, as shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, is suspended from the casing at 43. Instead of the lever mechanism .35 shown in the diagram the actual stop mechanism consists of the lever 44 shown most clearly in Figs. 4, 5 and 8. This lever is pivoted at the back of the casing at 45, and is provided at one end with a lug or arm 46 which is adapted to bear against the under side of the lever 25-. When the controller is in its off position the pin 36 engages with a shoulder 47 on the lever 44 and forces the lug 46 against the under side of the lever 25, thereby preventing the latter lever from being drawn downward. When the controller cylinder is in its full running position the lug 37 rides up over a lug 48 on the lever 44, causi the link 46 to be brou ht against theunder side oflever 25 as efore. There is sufficient lost. motion in the parts to enable the pin 36 to be. withdrawn sufiiciently at starting to enable the lever 25 to drop, in order to permit the circuit through electromagnet 20 to be closed.

The emergency air-brake apparatus is as follows: The usual emergency valve E is supported near the top of the controller casing and the valve stem 49 projects slightly beyond the valve casing in the usual manner. A dog 50 is pivotally secured within the controller casing at the point 51 and the end of the stem 49 lies directly within the plane of movement of this dog. When the reverser is in its ofl' position the dog 50 is prevented from forcing the valve stem 49 inwardly by means of the arm 52 which is provided at oneend with a notch 53 for engaging with the end of dog 50, and is connected at its other end to a collar 54 on the reverser shaft 55 by means of the bell crank lever 56 and the link 57. When the reverser shaft is moved in either direction, in order to give forward or reverse motor connections, bell crank lever 56 is oscillated in a direction to move the rod 52 to the right, releasing the dog 50 from engagement with the walls of the groove or notch 53. A bar or shoe 58 is slidin ly mounted adjacent the dog 50 and is provided with a lug 59 which is adapted to engage with a shoulder 60 on the do when the shoe 58 is moved upwardly, t ereby forcing the valve stem 49 inwardly and cansing the brake to be a plied. A convenient way of mounting the siioe 58 consists in passing rivets or bolts 61 through slots 62 in the dog and securing the rivets or bolts to a fixed part. The shoe 58 is actuated b a sliding cam 63 keyed to the shaft 1. his cam is normally held in its raised position by means of a spring 64 which engages at its respective ends with the cam 63 and a collar 65 on the shaft 1. N hen the motorman places his hand upon the controller handle he depresses the button 66 and thereby, through the levers 67 and 68, de resses the sliding ey 69 which bears at its l ower end upon the cam 63, thus pressing the 'cam downwardly against the action of the spring 65. This movement of the cam brings the cam flange 63 intoalinement with the roller 70 carried upon the end of the arm 71 of the emergency circuit breaker. When the handle of the controller is turned, the cam flange 63 rotates the arm 71 about its shaft 72, thereby bringing the movable contacts 73 of the emergency circuit with the fixed contacts 74. If now, while the controller handle is in one of its running positions, the button 66 is released, the cam 63 flies upwardly,

striking the shoulder 75 upon the shoe 58 and causing the shoe to press the dog 50 inwardly against the valve stem 49. At the same time the flange 63 asses beyond the end of the roller 70 and alows the spring 76 to throw the contacts 73 outwardly to break the circuit. This latter operation brings the roller 70 beneath flange troller the brakes may I? plied at will by depressing or releasing t e' form now'known tome, I do not desire to limit it to the particular form illustrated since in its broader aspects, the present in-' vention ma be embo ed in various forms.

What I c aim as new 'and .desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1. In controlapparatus, a controller, an operating handle, a flexible connection between said controller an handle, mechanism for step movement of 'said'controller, and elecanism inoperative.

2. In control apparatus, acontroller, an operating handle, an electromagnetic escapetromagnetic means for rendering said mech- 'ment for limiting the speed of movement of said controller, and electromagnetic means for renderlng 'sa1descapement inoperative. 3. In control apparatus, a controller, an

operating handle, an electromagnetic escape: .ment for limiting the speedof movement of Ithe sald controller, and

means for locking said escapement to the movement of the controller. p 4. In control apparatus, a controller, an operatin handle, a flexible connection between sald controller and said operating handle, an escapement for limiting the speedof movement of the said controller, and electromagnetlc means for rendermg sald escapemem moperative.

5. control apparatus, a controller, means for. actuating said controller, an es- -capement-for limitingthe rate ofmovement means for holding of said controller, and means for rendering said esca ement inoperative when the controller ism its final rlmning position.

6. In control ap aratus, a controller, actuating means there or, an electromagnetic escapement including .a switch for limiting the rate of movement of said controller, and said switch open when the controller is in one of its extreme positions.

: 7. In control apparatus, a controller, actufor limiting the rate of movement of said con- I troller, means independent of the controller so ment, and means for rendering actuating .locking said speed limiting said operating producing a step by ing a step by step movement of:

troller, andmeans operated I controlled circuit for lockingsaid'speed lim- 1ting evice to arrest. the

. escapement device electromagnetic arrest electroma 'means for ating means therefor, an escapement device circuit for rendering said estroller and the said handle,"an escapement of movement of a means for moving said controller, a speed limiting device for 'caus'ing-a-step by step movement of the controller, and.' means fordevice to arrest the movement of the controllerf 11. In a system of control, a controlled circuit, a controller, =-meansfor moving said controller, a speed limiting device forcaus- 1 by current in themovement of the controller.

12. In control ap 'aratus, a controller, an

which said controller may be moved, an electromagnet for governing the operation of the the con-' or limiting the speed at escapement device, and a second electro-- magnet for governing the operation of the first electromagnet.

13. In control apparatus, a' controller, and

overning means including an electromagnet or limiting the'speed at w may be moved and a second electromagnet ich said controllerfor causing the controllerto be locked against movement. a 14. In control ap aratus, a controller, means including an el ectromagnet for limiting the speed atwhich the said controller may be moved, a switch in the circuit of said et, operative connections between sai switch and the core of said elec tromagnet, and a second electromagnet controlling an independent circuit for said first electromagnet. t

15. In control apparatus, a" controller, placing said controller under a strain tending tomove it to'arunning-position', and governing means 'including an electromagnet for limiting the s eed at which the controller may be move and a second electroma et for causing the movement of the controller to be arrested.

16. In a system of control, a controlled circuit, .a controller, means for-placing said controller under a strain tending to move it to a running position, and overning means including an electromagnet for limiting the current in the controlled clrcuit for causing the movement of the controller to be arrested.

Ill)

17. In control apparatus, a controller, means for actuating said controller, an escapement for limiting the rate of movement of the controller, an electromagnet for cona trolling said escapemcnt, a switch in circuit with said clectromagnet, and an operative connection between said switch and said electromagnet.

18. In control apparatus, a controller, a s ced limiting device therefor including an electromagnet, a switch in the circuit of the elcctroinagnet, means associated with said electromagnet for opening said switch, and means including a ash. pot for closing said switch.

19. In control apparatus, a controller, a s )ecd limiting device therefor including an electromagnet, a switch in the circuit of the electromagnet, means associated with the electromagnet for moving said switch in one direction, and means including a retarding device for moving said switch in the other direction. 20. In control apparatus, a controller, and a speed limiting device therefor including an electromagnet and a retarding device for governing the operation of said electroma net and a secondelectromagnet for controdling the first electromagnet.

21. In a system of control, a controlled circuit, a controller, and a speed limiting device for said controller including an electromagnet, 21 retarding device for governing the I operation of said electromagnet and a second electromagnet for controlling the first electromagnet.

22. In control apparatus, a controller,

I means for actuating said controller, an escapement for limiting the rate of movement of said controller, an clectromagnet for controlling said escapement, a switch in circuit 1 with said elcctromagnet, an operative connection between the switch and the escapement foropcning said switch, and aretarding device for controlling the opening movement of the switch.

23. In a controller, an operating shaft, a controller cylinder, a sleeve surrounding the said shaft and connected to the controller cylinder, a spring having its ends secured respectively to the shaft and to the sleeve, and an electromagnetic escapement associated with said sleeve for limiting the rate of movement of the controller cylinder.

24. In a system of control, a controlled circuit, a controller, means for actuating said controller, an escapement for limiting the rate of movement of the controller, an electromagnet for governing the operation of said escapement, a switch in the circuit of the electromagnet, an operative connection between said electroma n t and said switch for actuating said switcfia, a shunt arranged about said switch, a second switch arranged in said shunt, and means controlled by current in the controlled circuit for actuating the said second switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of'January, 1905.

ARTHUR T. CROCKER Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HELEN Onronr). 

